Fourth of July*

What a great 4th this year! We decided to venture out and see the Oregon Pacific Coast. Destination: Cannon Beach, home of the famous Haystack Rock. It was a beautiful day and an even more beautiful drive as we headed west. We decided early on that we were going to enjoy the journey and not just rush to the destination - a big step for us! Doug found a parking spot in a prime location, we toured the quaint town and then hit the beach! The beach was sandy, like the beaches in Michigan. The beach was also chilly, like the beaches in Michigan. So we were right at home.

Haystack Rock

The little one did great. She's still at the stage where she wants Mama and Daddy and doesn't really care what else is going on around her. Unless it's a kid. Or a puppy. And then she's mesmerized. So she wasn't excited that we were at the beach, but she was happy as ever. She even napped on the blanket that we brought, under an umbrella.

We ate dinner at a little diner and then back to the beach to stroll along the rocks jutting up out of the ocean. This was our favorite part. Haystack cut the waves, so on our side of it the waves were coming from two different directions and left a very shallow area. We stayed here for a while and watched the beginning of a wedding on the beach!

Waves crashing in near Haystack Rock

Then off to Portland for the next two nights. Great hotel - 4 stars won off Priceline. Great location - right downtown. Great company - the three of us without an agenda! Portland is a nice, smaller scale, clean city. It doesn't seem too unique or special - nothing about it really stood out to us. We were glad that we stayed there, though, and we all really did enjoy our time there.

Next stop: Mt. St. Helens. Amazing. We were just in awe of it. The Johnston Ridge Observatory was the way to go (named after the volcanologist on duty when she exploded and lost his life as a result). We were 5 miles away, looking straight at the "new" lava dome which is still exloding, albeit less dramatically than in the past. The steam was evident in the center of the "new" mountain that is rebuilding within the "old" mountain. The rangers were very knowledgable, friendly and excited about it all which made it all the more interesting for us. And the movie was definitely worth seeing - what an amazing feat of nature. God's creativity and power never ceases to amaze me. Another amazing thing: we saw friends from the midwest! Friends we haven't seen in quite a while! That just made our day.

Mt. St. Helens from WA-504

The "new" lava dome is currently steaming amid its eruptions!

We can't believe the opportunities we've had this summer. I have a feeling we'll look back and 1) be so grateful for our time here.....2) be so grateful that the little one is so good, so flexible, and so happy.......3) be so grateful that we did it all together!

*post written by Doug's better half